At a recent Lansing school board meeting the nationwide nonprofit organization called, Vision to Learn was introduced.
Dr. Sue Wheeler presented a health and wellness update and gave a presentation on how Vision to Learn will be participating in the Lansing school district.
“This year we are expanding our partnership with Vision to Learn… a nonprofit organization that provides onsite vision screening, vision exams and glasses for students who need them,” Wheeler said. “All are at no cost to our families. We joined Vision last year as a pilot program which proved to be very successful.”
As a part of Ingham County and the State of Michigan’s health department, it is a requirement that grades kindergarten, one, three, five and seven have an eye exam.
“The vision of the learning group is to come in and provide service to children in GSRP (Great Start Readiness Program) and ECSE (Early Childhood Special Education) and grades two, four, six and eight,” Wheeler said. “We did this with intention so we can get every grade screened in the district.”
By partnering with Vision to Learn the motive is to help assist students with easier access to learning in the classroom.
“Lieutenant Governor Gilcrest recognized Vision to Learn as an important resource for providing students with access to glasses to support their academic success,” Wheeler said.
Lansing school board member Kurt Richardson expressed concern about the glasses process for a student.
“What is the follow up for when we know a kid needs glasses and they don’t have glasses?” Richardson said.
“They do the exam if the child needs glasses and right at that time they show them a selection of frames, and they take the order and in about two weeks time they bring them to the school,” Wheeler said. “But for the children who identify through the Ingham county program, the nursing staff makes personal contact with each family on the list of students who have failed the screening. We then ask the families to go then go further and get an exam.”
Lansing school board Vice President Robin Moore asked how the high school students will be considered.
“I am thinking about our students that are in nine through twelve, how do you serve them especially when they are transferring schools?” Moore said.
“Students (in grades) nine through twelve are not included in the state mandated vision screening program,” Wheeler said. “However, if the student self identifies as they are not seeing well then they can connect with the nurse assigned to their building and we will help them do the exam and the follow up.”
To watch the Lansing school board meeting or watch the “Vision to Learn’ presentation click here.
